Melbourne one step closer to ending 57-year drought after dominant finals win

After finishing on top of the ladder, Melbourne is just two wins away from breaking a 57-year drought following a dominant final.

Melbourne is two wins away from premiership glory. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Melbourne fans can dare to dream after the Demons demolished Brisbane by 33 points at the Adelaide Oval to book their spot in a preliminary final.

The first quarter was an arm-wrestle between the two top-four sides and the game looked set to turn into a finals classic

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But a dominant second term, led by gun midfielder Clayton Oliver, cracked the game open and Melbourne was never seriously challeneged from there, running out with a 13.15 (93) to 9.6 (60) victory.

Despite being a favourite for the Brownlow medal, Oliver has been criticised in the past for being wayward with his kicking, but he silenced those doubters with some sublime delivery inside 50 on to the chest of his Melbourne teammates.

Small forward Charlie Cameron played a lone hand for Brisbane, kicking five goals, but he was one of very few Lions players to have an influence on the game.

Lachie Neale accumulated a mammoth 46 disposals but he had very little impact for Brisbane.

Clayton Oliver was on fire against the Lions. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Melbourne led by 30 points at halftime before the Lions staged a mini-comeback in the third term, thanks to goals from Cameron and Hugh McCluggage.

But the Demons were always in control of the game and had strong contributors across the board, including Bayley Fritsch who kicked four goals.

Such was the the dominance of Melbourne’s victory, it was able to rest its gun players Oliver, Christian Petracca, Steven May and Max Gawn on the bench in the dying minutes of the last quarter.

Experienced players Nathan Jones, Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham couldn’t force their way into Melbourne’s line-up, which was praised for its depth.

“We know the Dees have such top line talent but it is their role players who add so much,” Sydney Swans premiership legend Jude Bolton wrote on Twitter.

“(Tom) Sparrow/(James) Harmes/(Alex) Neale-Bullen etc continue to give them plenty each week. Great win and the prelim awaits!”

“Dees’ flag odds shortening by the minute, they look in seriously good nick right now,” footy journalist Rohan Connolly said on social media.

Melbourne fans can barely contain their excitement as their side moves one step closer to the grand final and breaking a premiership drought stretching back to 1964.

The Demons train is full steam ahead. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

“I’m so happy. I’m unfamiliar with this feeling,” comedian and Melbourne supporter Titus O’Reilly tweeted.

The win over Brisbane gives the Demons the luxury of a week off, and they will travel to Perth tomorrow for their preliminary final in a fortnight.

It was a bruising game for both sides, with Brisbane’s Daniel McStay suffering a bloody nose after he was concussed by a stray knee.

And newly-crowned NAB Rising Star Luke Jackson had one of his teeth knocked out when he also copped a knee to the face.

Brisbane will face either the Western Bulldogs or Essendon in a sudden-death semi-final next week.

The Demons finished on top of the ladder and are hoping to win their first premiership since 1964 and break the longest drought in AFL history.